Fredericksburg

[Specster]

Went to Fredericksburg Battlefield for the first time on 4/5/21. Given the length of the Confederate line - over 8 miles, I thought Marye's Heights would have been taller, deeper and wider. Was amazed that the sunken road was so close to Marye's Heights. I read about this site for years but seeing it was a game changer in my mind. In my mind Burnside is among the most tragic figures in the war. No one hated him but, man, was he over his head and he knew it. He told Lincoln as much but Lincoln assigned him anyway. What a tragedy...what a mess. How do you order 11 assaults on those heights and still be able to look at yourself in the mirror the next day.

BTW, the female park ranger was something to behold. I know this is inapropriate but I have to say, in a standard issue park uniform and with a mask covering half her face, there is no denying she was an extraordinary girl. Knew the battlefield like the back of her hand as well. What a combo!

 

[Lubliner]

Have you seen this thread; https://civilwartalk.com/threads/burnside-removal-from-command-of-the-army-of-the-potomac.183287/
Lubliner.

 

[Woods-walker]

Marye's is apparently 1500 feet long, but when you add the often overlooked adjoining Willis Hill you get another 1300 or so feet.
The gunners on both hills used a small tree to sight their pieces and set their fuses beforehand. As the federals passed the tree, shells were so welled timed they passed through and exploded inside the ranks for maximum kill power.
Yes Burnside made many mistakes as commander. The biggest I can't understand is why he didn't use his artillery to destroy the stone wall at Sunken road before sending his troops forward.
Hope you enjoyed your visit.

 

[infomanpa]

Went to Fredericksburg Battlefield for the first time on 4/5/21. Given the length of the Confederate line - over 8 miles, I thought Marye's Heights would have been taller, deeper and wider. Was amazed that the sunken road was so close to Marye's Heights. I read about this site for years but seeing it was a game changer in my mind.

Yep. That's why it's necessary to visit battlefields to get the full picture.

 

[Specster]

Marye's is apparently 1500 feet long, but when you add the often overlooked adjoining Willis Hill you get another 1300 or so feet.
The gunners on both hills used a small tree to sight their pieces and set their fuses beforehand. As the federals passed the tree, shells were so welled timed they passed through and exploded inside the ranks for maximum kill power.
Yes Burnside made many mistakes as commander. The biggest I can't understand is why he didn't use his artillery to destroy the stone wall at Sunken road before sending his troops forward.
Hope you enjoyed your visit.

I was thinking along similar lines, in pure numbers of artillary peices the Union should have had the numerical advatage but the conferates certainly had the better location in several regards - height, interlocking fields, infantary in front of the artillary at the sunken road, fortifications, stored ammo, reserves ready at hand, etc....Would have thought the Union would have had some counter artillary fire up their sleave.

For Burnside to order 11 assaults on that position, in my mind, is inexcusable....He should have been sent to an outpost in Alaska even if we did not own it at that time.

 

[Woods-walker]

Same at Slaughter Pen at the other side of the battlefield. Sending a Division at a time forward. One would think someone like a Hancock or Meade would have talked him out of it.

 

[Cycom]

Hope to visit one day and see the same Heights the brave Union troops were on as they were sent to be needlessly butchered.

 

[Jack7171]

Went to Fredericksburg Battlefield for the first time on 4/5/21. Given the length of the Confederate line - over 8 miles, I thought Marye's Heights would have been taller, deeper and wider. Was amazed that the sunken road was so close to Marye's Heights. I read about this site for years but seeing it was a game changer in my mind. In my mind Burnside is among the most tragic figures in the war. No one hated him but, man, was he over his head and he knew it. He told Lincoln as much but Lincoln assigned him anyway. What a tragedy...what a mess. How do you order 11 assaults on those heights and still be able to look at yourself in the mirror the next day.

BTW, the female park ranger was something to behold. I know this is inapropriate but I have to say, in a standard issue park uniform and with a mask covering half her face, there is no denying she was an extraordinary girl. Knew the battlefield like the back of her hand as well. What a combo!

My g,g,grandfather fought there with the 28th nj vol,,,battle maps show them to be the 2nd unit in line to attack the sunken road. His brief letters written from the days of battle describe it as "the most masterly pease of bootchery the sun ever shone on" ,,,and "we was orderd to atact the rebels we had to go under a shower of shot and shell bursting amongst us killing a grat meny solgers befor we even got to the line of battle but I came out without being hurt yet we lost a number of our company killed or wounded and missing,,it is the most horiable place that I ever saw and if other can get cler I think I can. The fight was a despret one and amounted to nothing but to slaughter the solgers of for nothing it was a blodey place I asure you I will be glad anuf when my time is up

 

[Cycom]

My g,g,grandfather fought there with the 28th nj vol,,,battle maps show them to be the 2nd unit in line to attack the sunken road. His brief letters written from the days of battle describe it as "the most masterly pease of bootchery the sun ever shone on" ,,,and "we was orderd to atact the rebels we had to go under a shower of shot and shell bursting amongst us killing a grat meny solgers befor we even got to the line of battle but I came out without being hurt yet we lost a number of our company killed or wounded and missing,,it is the most horiable place that I ever saw and if other can get cler I think I can. The fight was a despret one and amounted to nothing but to slaughter the solgers of for nothing it was a blodey place I asure you I will be glad anuf when my time is up

What an great account.

 

[Lubliner]

Many of those units advancing remained on the field unable to retreat. If @Jack7171 's g.g.g grandfather was the second unit in, it would be a long piece of shivering fear lying prone on the field while the others advanced in succession.
Lubliner.

 

[Jack7171]

Many of those units advancing remained on the field unable to retreat. If @Jack7171 's g.g.g grandfather was the second unit in, it would be a long piece of shivering fear lying prone on the field while the others advanced in succession.
Lubliner.

 

[Jack7171]

View attachment 397510

This is more of the letter I have typed out,, they were ordered to the front at 10am,, and stayed until 5 in afternoon!

 

[Jack7171]

After I get them all typed,,I'll post them in entirety,,,its exhausting trying to read the handwriting lol! But I'll get them all transcribed, I promise

 

[Cycom]

After I get them all typed,,I'll post them in entirety,,,its exhausting trying to read the handwriting lol! But I'll get them all transcribed, I promise

Appreciate the effort. I enjoy both the narrative and the spelling/grammar. I don't mean this sarcastically or with insult...it's an interesting phonetic way of spelling.

 

[Jack7171]

Appreciate the effort. I enjoy both the narrative and the spelling/grammar. I don't mean this sarcastically or with insult...it's an interesting phonetic way of spelling.

I thought it best to transcribe it exactly how it was written,,,gives me a bit more of an insight to the past,,rather than a sanitized proper version

 

[bayouace]

A very vivid battlefield visit in 1996 for me, certainly. Thanks.

 

[J C J Barefoot]

Jack-
Looking forward to the final posting of your gggf letters. My GG Grandfather was in the 134th Pa Vol. under Humpherys. His regiment was in the final 4PM attack on the stone wall. They got to within about 50 feet I've been there three times. Last time was in September when I walked the march the 134th took through the town, out to the field and up to the wall. Very moving experience.
I highly recommend the book The Maps of Fredericksburg by Bradley M. Gottfried for anyone here that plans to go there. It lays it all out in excellent form.

 

[Jack7171]

Thank you, I will definitely check it out,,,and it sounds like your gg grandfather helped to save my gggfathers life by holding off the southern troops back at the wall,,as that's around the time he was able to retreat to the city!

 

[Lubliner]

Jack-
Looking forward to the final posting of your gggf letters. My GG Grandfather was in the 134th Pa Vol. under Humpherys. His regiment was in the final 4PM attack on the stone wall. They got to within about 50 feet I've been there three times. Last time was in September when I walked the march the 134th took through the town, out to the field and up to the wall. Very moving experience.
I highly recommend the book The Maps of Fredericksburg by Bradley M. Gottfried for anyone here that plans to go there. It lays it all out in excellent form.

That isn't a lot of distance from the end of a loaded gun, 50 feet. I believe you!
Lubliner.

 

[Specster]

My g,g,grandfather fought there with the 28th nj vol,,,battle maps show them to be the 2nd unit in line to attack the sunken road. His brief letters written from the days of battle describe it as "the most masterly pease of bootchery the sun ever shone on" ,,,and "we was orderd to atact the rebels we had to go under a shower of shot and shell bursting amongst us killing a grat meny solgers befor we even got to the line of battle but I came out without being hurt yet we lost a number of our company killed or wounded and missing,,it is the most horiable place that I ever saw and if other can get cler I think I can. The fight was a despret one and amounted to nothing but to slaughter the solgers of for nothing it was a blodey place I asure you I will be glad anuf when my time is up

God bless him.